This super cheesy Crock Pot tater tot breakfast casserole is the ultimate breakfast to treat yourself to. Lots of crispy tater tots, savory sausage, veggies, and gooey melty cheese come together in this hearty and wholesome Crockpot tater tot casserole. It’s a treat for your taste buds really!
There’s just something insanely comforting about holiday breakfasts.
And while buttermilk pancakes, Crockpot French toast, and Slow Cooker apple cinnamon rolls are my favorites, I was really looking forward to trying something savory.
Something that was hearty and perfect for the holidays. And what could be better than this meaty, cheesy casserole?
Trust me when I say this, this recipe is truly a game-changer for busy cooks!
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ingredients for the Crock Pot Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Recipe
- Variations & Substitutions
- How To Make Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole in the Crockpot
- Recipe Tips
- Serving Suggestions
- Storing & Freezing
- Recipe FAQs
- More Crock Pot Breakfast Recipes
- Crockpot Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- The dish comes together super quick in your Crockpot, and you’ll need just minutes of hands-on kitchen time to put everything together.
- It’s easy to prep and make ahead of time too! Perfect if you’re craving for a hearty breakfast that doesn’t take too long to make.
- It’s great for times when you’re hosting a brunch gathering or making a special family breakfast
Ingredients for the Crock Pot Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Recipe
- Breakfast sausage: To lend a nice savory and meaty element to the casserole. Swap with seasoned ground beef if you don’t have it.
- Frozen tater tots: These will act as the base of the casserole, making a crispy golden layer that holds the dish together and makes it super satisfying.
- Vegetables: I used a mix of yellow onion, red bell pepper, and some minced garlic to add that pop of color and lots of flavor and deliciousness to the casserole.
- Cheese: Shredded cheddar and pepperjack are great, and that’s what I used. They lend the casserole a nice balanced creaminess and slightly sharp flavor.
- Eggs act as the casserole's binding agent, and essentially hold everything together.
- Half and half: For that rich and creamy texture and flavor.
- Seasonings: I used just a simple mix of salt and pepper, and let the other ingredients shine.
- Dried parsley: For that subtle green color and some herby deliciousness.
Variations & Substitutions
- To make the tater tot casserole lighter, use Turkey breakfast sausage, or a leaner meat instead of your traditional breakfast sausage which has a higher fat content.
- Make the casserole meat-free by swapping the sausage with some crumbled plant-based meat or seasoned tofu crumbles.
- Make the casserole healthier by adding in more veggies like sauteed mushrooms, zucchini, and spinach.
- Start with seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken, and add some canned black beans and lots of tomatoes with some Taco seasoning to give this Crockpot breakfast tater tot casserole some delicious Tex-Mex flavors.
- Love breakfast-for-dinner? Throw some crumbled bacon into the sausage mixture to make it heartier and more protein-rich.
- Swap the breakfast sausage for some chopped, cooked ham and some broccoli florets in addition to the veggies. Experiment with cheeses like Swiss and Gouda to lend a different flavor to the casserole.
- Love the hot and spicy buffalo flavor? Start with ground chicken or turkey as the protein, season with buffalo sauce, and follow the rest of the recipe as is. Serve this buffalo chicken tater tot casserole with some cool ranch or blue cheese dressing.
How To Make Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole in the Crockpot
Step 1: Prepare the breakfast sausage: Brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drain the grease and set this aside.
Step 2: Layer the ingredients: Grease your Crokcpot with some non-stick cooking spray and arrange a layer of half of the tater tots such that they cover the bottom. In a large bowl, combine the cooked sausage, onions, bell peppers, garlic, and half of the cheese. Layer this mixture over the tater tots.
Step 3: Assemble the egg mixture: In another bowl, whisk the eggs, half and half, seasonings, and parsley. Pour this over the sausage and tater tots and top with the remaining half of the tater tots.
Step 4: Cover and cook: Add the lid to the top and cook on HIGH for 2 ½ – 3 hours. During the last 30 minutes of cooking time, sprinkle the remaining cheese and continue to cook. Garnish with fresh chopped green onions, and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Generously grease the inside of your Crokpot with olive oil or cooking spray before you layer all the ingredients in. This will help keep them from sticking to the pot.
- To lend the slow cooker tater tot casserole some extra depth of flavor, sauté the diced onions and red bell peppers in a little oil and soften them before adding them to the casserole.
- Remember to whisk the egg mixture nicely before you pour it into the casserole. Doing this will ensure they’re cooked evenly and don’t end up becoming rubbery.
- Use other veggies like green beans, bell peppers, and even broccoli to make the casserole heartier, and and more delicious. Frozen peas are great too!
Serving Suggestions
This Crockpot cheesy tater tot casserole packs in everything- meat, potatoes, and veggies, so you can totally enjoy it on its own. If you really want to go further and pair it with a side, I would recommend having a veggie side dish like Crockpot corn on the cob or Crockpot Brussels sprouts.
Storing & Freezing
Storing: If you have any leftovers, let them get to room temperature and then move them to an airtight container. You can then refrigerate them for up to 3-4 days, and reheat individual portions in the microwave or the oven at a low temperature.
Freezing: Want the casserole to last longer? Portion it out, transfer it to a freezer-safe container, and freeze it for up to 3 months. Make sure you allow it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, and then reheat it the next day.
Remember that freezing, thawing, and reheating can affect the texture of the casserole a bit, but that’s completely normal.
Recipe FAQs
Frozen tater tots must be used in this casserole as fresh potatoes will take too long to cook, which will make the egg mixture overcooked and rubbery by the time the potatoes are fully cooked.
If you don't have half and half, simply use your favorite milk or heavy cream instead.
Yes, you can prep the casserole the night before as well! Simply layer all the ingredients in the Crockpot, cover it up with cling wrap, and refrigerate it overnight. Then, all you need to do is turn on the Crockpot in the morning and cook on high for the set time.
More Crock Pot Breakfast Recipes
- Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
- Cracker Barrel Fried Apples
- Crock Pot French Toast
- Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Rolls
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Crockpot Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb breakfast sausage
- 1 (32 oz) bag frozen tater tots (divided in half)
- 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
- 1 red bell pepper (diced)
- 3 tsp garlic (minced)
- 1½ cups cheddar cheese (shredded and divided in half)
- 1½ cups pepper Jack cheese (shredded and divided in half)
Egg Mixture
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups half and half
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Brown sausage until there is no longer any pick. Drain off the grease and set aside.
- Spray the crock pot with a non-stick cooking spray. Then layer half of the tater tots on the bottom.
- Add cooked sausage, onions, bell pepper, garlic, and half of each cheese in a large bowl. Mix until well combined and spread over the tater tots.
- Add eggs, half and half, pepper, parsley, and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk until well combined. Pour egg mixture over sausage and tater tots.
- Layer the remaining tater tots over the top.
- Cover and cook on high for 2 ½ – 3 hours. During the last 30 minutes of cook time, cover with the remaining cheese and continue to cook.
- Garnish with fresh chopped green onions, and enjoy!
Notes
- Generously grease the inside of your Crokpot with olive oil or cooking spray before you layer all the ingredients in. This will help keep them from sticking to the pot.
- To lend the slow cooker tater tot casserole some extra depth of flavor, sauté the diced onions and red bell peppers in a little oil and soften them before adding them to the casserole.
- Remember to whisk the egg mixture nicely before you pour it into the casserole. Doing this will ensure they’re cooked evenly and don’t end up becoming rubbery.
- Use other veggies like green beans, bell peppers, and even broccoli to make the casserole heartier, and and more delicious. Frozen peas are great too!
Nutrition
*Nutrition information is an estimate. It may vary based on ingredients, brands, and changes in cooking methods listed in the recipe. If you need exact ingredient numbers, I recommend calculating them with your preferred nutrition calculator.
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